Method of designing



(No Model.)

W. S. EATON.

- METHOD OF DESIGNING.

Patented Sept. 351895.

1%. M YMMW M M? 62mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM s. EATON, or 'sAe HARBOR, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF DESIGNING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,624, dated September 3,1895.

Application filed April 1 7, l 8 95.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. EATON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sag Harbor, in the county of Sufiolk and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Engraving, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. I

This invention is an improvement in the art of designing for engraving or decorating metal and other surfaces, and has for its object the economical production of a great varietyof designs Without the outlay and expense now necessary.

The invention is particularly adapted to the manufacture of watohcases, jewelry, and silverware. Up to the time of my presentinvention the usual method of procedure has been to make design after design until a sufficient number had been produced to meet the requirements of the line of goods to be decorated. This method has been found to be very expensive, inasmuch as a high degree of skill is required to produce satisfactory work and the artists accordingly command high wages.

\Vhile my invention does not contemplate the employment of cheaper labor, it aims enormously to reduce the cost of the finished article, owing to the fact that the artist is by my method able to accomplish in one day what it would require by the old way weeks to do, and that without the mental strain found inseparable from the old system. In large manufactories this will be appreciated, since factories of any magnitude are obliged to retain the service of several designers in order tokeep up sufficient patterns for the work produced.

Another important feature in my invention lies in the fact that designs are occasionally produced that meet with an unexpected sale, and it is accordingly desirable to perpetuate for a time the particular style which has met with such success. Now, I have found that designers are not always able to produce work of a uniform quality, and thus, though at tempts may be made to imitate the popular design, they rarely do so. By my invention the most pleasing features of these popular designs are naturally perpetuated, and this Serial No. 546,089. (No'modeL) without any especial efiort on the part of the artist. Experience has shown me that designers do not always produce work of a uniform degree of excellence, and by my method I use only the best, and therefore attain results not heretofore found possible, and this without limiting the total number of designs.

The drawing shows a plan view of my invention.

In practice I usually lay out my design in four parts, as shown, although I may use a greater or less number, as fancy or convenience may dictate. I may, for example, make a design as in the drawing. This is a fourpart arrangement, and, as shown, represents a design suitable for the decoration of a watch case or'locket-back. The parts of the design are numbered 1 2 3 4, making one design, but the sections may be transposed to make a design in the order of l 2 3 4, 1 3 2 4, l 3 4 2, 1 4 3 2, or 1 42 3, making six designsin all, whereby the old method only one would be the result. Now, by takinganother complete design similar in number of parts and gen eral character, I. am enabled, by interchanging one or several parts of each with the other of these two originals, to produce upward of one hundred patterns, and so on indefinitely.

The most convenient manner of carrying out my invention, when the same is to be applied to the decoration of watchcases or analogous articles, is to make my outline in metal the same size or larger than the article to be decorated. The design is then transferred, by means well known in the art, to the article to be decorated, and then engraving (if engraving is the ultimate object) is proceeded with as usual.

The drawing shows a design as arranged for the decoration of a watchcase, and while the design (outlined on metal, as described) is operated upon it is held by clamps or in a frame or in any convenient manner.

The pattern-plate may be divided into a greater or less number of parts.

While I have shown the sections of the plate as in the form of sections and divided on radial lines, I do not wish to limit myself strictly to this, for, as the essential feature lies in a plate made up of the interchangeable sections having such design portions thereon as will make a complete and unitary design for all the changes of the sections in relation to each other, the artist can produce design portions on sections to meet this requirement, although the sections are divided from each other on lines other than radial.

What I claim isv 1. A changeable pattern plate for use in watch case designing and the like, composed of sections, each having a design portion thereon forming apart of the unitary design, said sections with their design portions being constructed and designed to fit each other and produce a complete and perfect design for all the changes or adjustments of the sections.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a changeable pattern plate, for use in Watch In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. EATON. Witnesses:

JOHN RILEY, R. T. ALDRED. 

